SECRET GARDEN Hostel - WANDERNEST Cat Ba

Staff absolutely lovely and the place has a really cool vibe to it. We loved the most that not all backpackers are 18-21 but also lots of mature travelers. The tours that you can book at reception are really cool, it's a great place to meet other people, and they have a fair price. On top of that the WiFi is very good and there's AC. The volunteers on site also to a fantastic job in making the stay memorable for everyone.

The in-house restaurant is not the best. It's not bad but also not great. However, that's no issue since there are 2 good restaurants just opposite the street. The bar is really good though. It's best to rent a scooter to get around (which we didn't), since waking to the beach is 30 mins and slightly highly. Also be sure to bring plenty of cash to Cat Ba or have VietQR. There's no non-scam ATMs on the island + card payments at the hostel come with 5% card fee. Best so search a VPBank ATM in a city before. The cleanliness is okay in general. Unfortunately, on two occassions, we had a cockroach in the room - presumably out of the shower drain. Management should definitely look into this! Also if it's unavoidable to some extent in this tropical climate..

Really nice atmosphere, especially in the evenings. The staff were friendly and helpful, the location was good, and the whole place had a relaxed and friendly vibe. It was a nice place to chill and meet other travellers.

The place looks a bit better in the photos than it does in real life and could definitely do with a little refresh. The pool didn’t look very inviting either. Apart from that, nothing major to complain about.

Consiglio a tutti di andarci. È il modo migliore per fare amacizia. Il posto è davvero carino

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Secret Garden Hostel in Cat Ba was easily one of the highlights of my time in Vietnam. The atmosphere, the staff, the other travellers and the overall vibe made it feel like so much more than just a place to stay. I loved it so much that I ended up volunteering there as a bartender for two weeks — which probably says everything! 😂 It was honestly one of the best decisions I made on my trip. I met some amazing people, had some unforgettable nights and felt genuinely part of the hostel community. If you’re travelling through Cat Ba, I couldn’t recommend Secret Garden enough. Whether you’re staying for a couple of nights or, like me, accidentally end up staying much longer than planned, you’ll have an amazing time. Thank you to everyone at Secret Garden for making my time in Cat Ba so special. ❤️